3D Scanning Output

What is the WorkFlow and Outputs of 3D Scanning ?

• we can scan items from 100mm*  to 600mm* cubic (Xmm by * Xmm * by Xmm)
• deliver your item to our studio
• it takes 5-10 days to fit your scan into out workflow
• we may chose to use 3d structured light scanning or 3d photogrammetry scanning
• the resulting file is a 3D point-cloud of data
• to get to a usable CAD or 3D Printing file you will require additional chargeable time to reverse-engineer this 3D point cloud into a usable CAD file, this can take days depending on  the complexity of your object. You  may choose to do this yourself, many customers do.

3D Scanning can be used to help create 3D Computer Model files for use in 3D Printing.
Using a fine Laser or a Light grid we can scan an items surface from many angles to generate the 3D shape in the computer.
3D data is generated in a way similar to radar or sonar, to detect an object’s surface and features from a known location [the scanner].

3D Scanning is computationally intensive (time to process the scanned data) so it is best to decide which is quicker and therefore more cost effective or more precise; 3D Scanning or 3D CAD Modelling.

Creating a 3D Scan can be the best option for objects where the exact detailed* recreation of complex compound curves or surface textures are required (pattens, text, inscriptions), something that is not really humanly or economically possible to recreate.

3D Photogrammetry

q. ‘Photogrammetry is the science of making measurements from photographs. The input to photogrammetry is photographs, and the output is typically a map, a drawing, a measurement, or a 3D model of some real-world object or scene.’

3D Structured Light

q. ‘Structured-light 3D scanners project a pattern of light on the subject and look at the deformation of the pattern on the subject. The pattern is projected onto the subject using either an LCD projector or other stable light source. A camera, offset slightly from the pattern projector, looks at the shape of the pattern and calculates the distance of every point in the field of view.’

3D Scanning Uses

An example of such detailed* shapes are;

• museum artefacts
• sculpted artworks
• statues, or
• unavailable / discontinued plastic or metal components
• *’detail’ can be down to 0.04 mm resolution.

At best a human can 3D Sculpt a close approximation but it will not be as exact or dimensionally perfect as a computational Scan.

A very positive use of 3D ScannIng is to generate a 3D Template Model to trace around within your CAD Software. This Reverse Engineering can be quicker for sculptural or more fluid shapes.

3D Scanning Objects.

From small items like Jewellery or Teeth.
Large items like People, Furniture or Cars.
Huge objects like whole Buildings, Towns or even Planets! can be scanned using LiDAR or Photogrammetry or Video footage from Drones.

Contact us

Can your project can make use of 3D Scanning or Traditional 3D CAD Modelling or Reverse Engineering ?

3D Printing Leeds is a marketing name of the James Rothschild Partnership.
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Providing 3D Printing Services for LONDON MANCHESTER and SHEFFIELD and the UK